Terrestrial plants and aquatic plants might look very similar, but many things set them apart. For example, did you know that there are many aquarium plants that don’t need substrate at all?
Sure, some plants found above water don’t live on soil, but they are attached to other plants to get all the necessary nutrients. With aquatic plants, this isn’t the case. Some can get all the necessary nutrients from the water.
Whether you don’t feel like having any type of substrate in your tank or just love floating plants, one of these 17 aquarium plants that don’t need substrate might be the right fit for you.
Here’s what they are:
1. Water Lettuce
Water lettuce (also known as water cabbage) is a floating plant, which means the type of substrate doesn’t matter to it much. It will grow the same with or without it!
This plant is very easy to care for. All it requires is a bit of liquid fertilizer and occasional CO2 supplementation if you want it to reach its full growth potential – although it can live just fine without it.
The only issue you might have with this plant is that it cannot withstand strong currents. As such, avoid keeping it with pets such as vampire shrimp that require filters that create lots of flow.
| Scientific name: | Pistia stratiotes |
| Light requirement: | High |
| Growth rate: | Fast |
| Maximum height: | 10 inches |
| CO2: | Supplementation is advised |
| Nutrition: | Requires fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Moderate |
2. Java Fern
What makes java fern different from most plants on this list is that it isn’t a floating plant. However, due to the structure of its roots, it doesn’t require any substrate to grow. Yes, that’s true – you can grow this plant in an aquarium with a bare bottom!
Java fern gets all of the necessary nutrients from the water, and you don’t need to fertilize or supplement it. This is a very easy-going plant that is excellent for beginners, as you can hardly go wrong with it.
The only issue some people might have with java fern is that it is a very slow grower, so you might think your plant isn’t thriving. This doesn’t have to be the case. It simply grows at its own pace.
| Scientific name: | Microsorum pteropus |
| Light requirement: | Low |
| Growth rate: | Slow |
| Maximum height: | 15 inches |
| CO2: | Doesn’t require supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Doesn’t require fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
3. Java Moss
Java moss is a plant that you can leave floating, or you can grow it attached to a rock or driftwood. You can place it on a nutrient-rich substrate, as well, but it doesn’t need to be on one in order to thrive.
This plant is really easy to care for, as it doesn’t require any special conditions. It can live in most water parameters and light conditions, and it doesn’t need any additional feeding or CO2 injections.
Some people prefer java moss over java fern as moss grows really fast, compared to a much slower fern. Others dislike the additional pruning and maintenance this carries.
| Scientific name: | Vesicularia dubyana |
| Light requirement: | Low to high |
| Growth rate: | Fast |
| Maximum height: | 4 inches |
| CO2: | Doesn’t require supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Doesn’t require fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
4. Anubias
Anubias is one of the most common aquarium plants, and I am certain most of you have already heard of it. This is a gorgeous plant that most people grow on the substrate, but you’ll be surprised to learn that it can survive floating, as well.
However, if you choose to grow this thick-leaved plant without any substrate, you need to keep in mind that this carries a few issues.
For example, floating anubias are more prone to algae infestations. While algae won’t directly harm the plant, they will keep the light from reaching it, and they might hinder the plant’s ability to get necessary micronutrients.
Also, if you’d like to see your anubias flower, you might have better chances if you allow it to grow fully submersed, as it typically blooms underwater.
| Scientific name: | Anubias barteri |
| Light requirement: | Low |
| Growth rate: | Slow |
| Maximum height: | 16 inches |
| CO2: | Optional supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Doesn’t require fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
5. Water Weed
Water weed or elodea is one of the plants most aquarists would recommend to beginners. This plant is fully capable of surviving on its own and doesn’t require almost any help from you.
This fast-growing aquarium plant lives floating in the water or attached to any surface, so the type of substrate you use doesn’t matter at all. Also, you don’t need to provide it with any supplements or additional feeding.
The only thing you need to be mindful of is that it can grow really large really fast. If you don’t control it, it can grow over your entire tank.
| Scientific name: | Elodea |
| Light requirement: | Low to high |
| Growth rate: | Fast |
| Maximum height: | 8 feet |
| CO2: | Doesn’t require supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Doesn’t require fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
6. Amazon Frogbit
Amazon frogbit is a rearing plant, which, naturally, means that you can use any substrate you’d like. It’s sometimes confused with duckweed, but the latter is much smaller.
This plant, also known as the South America sponge plant, doesn’t need any CO2 supplementation, making it a fairly easy plant when it comes to caring.
However, as it has a fast growth rate, you might want to provide it with a bit of feeding every now and then, although this isn’t mandatory for it to thrive.
| Scientific name: | Limnobium laevigatum |
| Light requirement: | Moderate |
| Growth rate: | Fast |
| Maximum height: | 20 inches |
| CO2: | Doesn’t require supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Advised fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
7. Crystalwort
Crystalwort is a floating tank plant that doesn’t need any substrate – although you can attach it to rocks or driftwood if you feel like it. Also, some people grow it as a carpeting plant as it can add gorgeous details to your tank.
While fast-growing, crystalwort remains short, so you don’t have to prune it. However, occasional trimming might keep it from spreading too far.
If you’d like, you might add some CO2 or plant food from time to time, but it doesn’t really need it to survive. The only thing you need to be mindful of is the light condition. Plants that grow floating will need less light than plants you keep at the bottom of the tank.
| Scientific name: | Riccia Fluitans |
| Light requirement: | Medium to high |
| Growth rate: | Fast |
| Maximum height: | 1.5 inches |
| CO2: | Optional supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Optional fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy to moderate |
8. Bucephalandra
Bucephalandra is one of the aquarium plants that flower, but it’s usually kept for its gorgeous leaves that can vary in color from green and brown to even red and purple.
While this plant doesn’t require a substrate (quite the opposite, it isn’t really used to growing in one), unlike most other species I’ve listed, it needs to be attached to rocks or driftwood or any other type of surface.
Other than that, this plant is quite low effort, and the only thing it needs is a bit of fertilizer every now and then.
| Scientific name: | Bucephalandra |
| Light requirement: | Low to high |
| Growth rate: | Slow |
| Maximum height: | 10 inches |
| CO2: | Doesn’t require supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Fertilization is advised |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
9. Moneywort
Despite all the pictures you can see online that show this plant grown in gravel or sand, moneywort doesn’t really require any type of substrate in order to survive. You can leave it floating or keep it attached to a rock and it will be just as happy!
Not just that, but you don’t even need to worry about the water currents – something that most other aquarium plants that don’t need substrate are pesky about. They can withhold it all!
Moneywort is also known as an herb of grace, most likely due to its medical purposes. Some people even use it for treating epilepsy!
| Scientific name: | Bacopa monnieri |
| Light requirement: | Low to medium |
| Growth rate: | Slow |
| Maximum height: | 12 inches |
| CO2: | Doesn’t require supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Fertilization is advised |
| Care difficulty: | Easy to moderate |
10. Duckweed
Duckweed is an umbrella term that includes a number of fast-growing, floating plants also known as water lentils. Yes, as its name suggests, this plant is nutritious to humans, just like ‘real’ lentils.
Most people use duckweed as food for herbivore fish, such as goldfish or oscars. It is also used for nutrient control, as it can help intake all the excessive nutrients from your aquarium.
However, as it grows so fast, I would not recommend keeping it in the same tank as you would keep your prized fish in. It can overgrow your entire aquarium in the matter of days, and it’s really challenging to get rid of!
| Scientific name: | Lemnoideae |
| Light requirement: | Low to High |
| Growth rate: | Fast |
| Maximum height: | ¼ of an inch |
| CO2: | Doesn’t require supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Doesn’t require fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | High |
11. Christmas Moss
While Christmas moss requires a bit more care than some other plants from this list, this is an extraordinary species that looks amazing when grown as a carpeting plant.
As Christmas moss takes all the required nutrients directly from the water, it doesn’t really require any substrate at all. You can grow it in a bare-bottomed tank, if you’d like! Of course, you might also use it as one of the plants you’ll attach to driftwood as a decoration.
Also, it doesn’t require any special care when it comes to supplementation, although it might be a bit picky with water parameters.
| Scientific name: | Vesicularia montagnei |
| Light requirement: | Medium to high |
| Growth rate: | Moderate |
| Maximum height: | 15 inches |
| CO2: | Doesn’t require CO2 injections |
| Nutrition: | Doesn’t require fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Moderate |
12. Brazilian Pennywort
Brazilian pennywort is one of those plants you can grow in whichever way you’d like. In substrate, on rock, on driftwood, or even floating with no substrate at all – it will thrive either way.
This is one of the most relaxed plants you can get. It can withhold most water parameters, doesn’t require any CO2 injections, and grows really fast – but not too large, so it won’t become a nuisance.
The only thing you need to provide it with is a bit of feeding. Otherwise, it will grow weak or even deformed.
| Scientific name: | Hydrocotyle leucocephala |
| Light requirement: | Moderate |
| Growth rate: | Fast |
| Maximum height: | 8 inches |
| CO2: | Doesn’t require supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Requires fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
13. Hornwort
Now, I know I’ve said this a couple of times by now, but hear me out – Hornwort truly is the easiest plant you can get. It is also one of the best possible plants you can get for your crowntail betta due to its resilience and good looks.
As you’ve probably guessed, Hornwort doesn’t require any fertilization and it doesn’t need CO2 supplementation. Yes, it also doesn’t need any substrate. You can just allow it to float and it will thrive!
While it grows really fast and can become really large, this can hardly happen so quickly that you need to monitor the tank every week. Still, I would keep it in large tanks, just to be sure.
| Scientific name: | Ceratophyllum demersum |
| Light requirement: | Moderate |
| Growth rate: | Fast |
| Maximum height: | 10 feet |
| CO2: | Doesn’t require supplements |
| Nutrition: | Doesn’t require fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
14. Dwarf Hygrophila
The dwarf hygro, sometimes called Indian swampweed, is another rather popular plant most people have heard about. However, not everyone knows that it can grow without any substrate at all – but it won’t matter if you plant it in one, either.
This is a fast-growing plant that does require some additional CO2 and fertilizer, which is why I cannot consider it a true easy-to-care-for plant. Also, it can grow really fast, so you need to prune it regularly.
Unfortunately, this invasive plant has contaminated some regions of the US, and due to its status on the Federal Noxious Weed List it’s even illegal to import and sell in several states, such as Kansas.
| Scientific name: | Hygrophila polysperma |
| Light requirement: | Medium to high |
| Growth rate: | Fast |
| Maximum height: | 8 inches |
| CO2: | Supplementation is advised |
| Nutrition: | Liquid fertilizer is required |
| Care difficulty: | Easy to moderate |
15. Fanwort
Fanwort (not to be confused with hornwort!) is a beautiful, bright green plant you’ve probably seen in most pet stores.
While most people keep fanwort on gravel, you can also keep it as a floating plant. In other words, it doesn’t really need any substrate to thrive.
In fact, it might grow even faster when grown this way, as it will be closer to the light source. Just be careful, as it might grow too fast, so you’ll need to prune it constantly to keep it under control.
| Scientific name: | Cabomba caroliniana |
| Light requirement: | Moderate to high |
| Growth rate: | Fast |
| Maximum height: | 20 inches |
| CO2: | Doesn’t require supplements |
| Nutrition: | Optional fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
16. Indian Toothcup
Indian toothcup is a stem plant that can also be grown as a floating plant with ease. While considered a weed in its native Asia, in the US this is a popular aquarium plant that doesn’t require too much care.
Indian toothcup can survive without any CO2 or fertilizer. However, if you provide it with a few extra nutrients and enough light, you’ll see its green color change, making it one of the most beautiful red aquarium plants out there.
Due to its large size, I would advise keeping this plant in larger tanks. While it can live in smaller ones, this would require regular trimming, and it might take too much space too quickly.
| Scientific name: | Rotala indica |
| Light requirement: | Moderate to high |
| Growth rate: | Moderate |
| Maximum height: | 2 feet |
| CO2: | Optional supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Optional fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
17. Water Wisteria
Water wisteria, a distant cousin of dwarf hygro, is a well-known plant among aquarists. This easy-going plant can survive in almost all conditions, and this includes living in a tank with no substrate at all!
You can grow water wisteria in many ways. From floating to growing as a carpet on the bottom of the tank, this plant is truly one of the most versatile species you can find. No wonder why it’s so popular!
Despite its fast growth rate, it doesn’t require any feeding or CO2 injections. However, you might want to trim it from time to time.
| Scientific name: | Hygrophila difformis |
| Light requirement: | Moderate to high |
| Growth rate: | Fast |
| Maximum height: | 20 inches |
| CO2: | Doesn’t require supplementation |
| Nutrition: | Doesn’t require fertilization |
| Care difficulty: | Easy |
In Conclusion
There are many reasons why one might be looking for aquarium plants that need substrate to survive. These 17 plants are an amazing fit for almost any tank imaginable!
Keep in mind that, while many plants might live for a while without being attached to substrate, this doesn’t mean they can grow or mature this way. Be very careful when choosing the right species for your needs.
One thing I’d like to add is to be mindful of the fact that floating plants might limit the amount of light your aquarium inhabitants will get. They might not be the best choice for fish that need to reach the surface of the water to get oxygen, as well.
You know that calming feeling of tranquility and thrill while looking at a gorgeous, perfectly functioning tank? That’s why I became an aquarist.
To make a very long story short, I’m Noah, and I’ve started this site aiming to share the most helpful advice on creating thriving habitats for fish and underwater animals.